Parcel locker systems

ABSTRACT

A parcel locker system is disclosed that includes a rigid container having an external surface, an internal area that is configured to receive and hold a parcel, a door that is configured to be reversibly opened and closed, a door lock that is configured to be wirelessly activated and deactivated, a digital indicator located on the external surface (which signals whether the door lock is activated or deactivated), a means for attaching the rigid container to a floor or wall surface, and a power source. The system further includes a camera that is configured and oriented to capture video content of a delivery person located adjacent to the rigid container and wirelessly transmit such video content. In addition, the system includes a software application that is configured to receive transmitted video content from the camera and, according to a user&#39;s command, wirelessly issue an instruction to the door lock to deactivate for a period of time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention relates to parcel lockers and relatedsystems, which are configured to securely receive and hold parcels thatare delivered to residential and commercial destinations (and which canbe remotely and wirelessly controlled).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, e-commerce has fueled incredible growth in consumerpurchases of goods that are delivered straight to the customer's home orbusiness. In the infancy of e-commerce, consumers were purchasing books,DVDs, and other small items, which could easily be delivered to thecustomer's home or business (and, in many cases, deposited within aconventional mail box). As e-commerce has become more accessible andmainstream, the types of goods that are currently purchased by consumersvia e-commerce platforms has expanded considerably—e.g., consumerelectronics, clothing, and now even food items are being purchased anddelivered to a customer's home or business.

The growth in such delivery services has, unfortunately, also given riseto a new form of crime. Specifically, when parcels are delivered to ahome or business, if the customer (or other person) is not present inthe home or business, the parcel is often left at the doorstep of thehome or business. On occasion, thieves will take such parcels, whichdeprives the customer of the product and, furthermore, createsadditional expense for on-line vendors. In addition, when parcels areleft at the doorstep of a home or business, the parcels are moresusceptible to weather-related damage.

In view of the foregoing, there is a continuing and growing demand fornew products and systems that are configured to securely receive andhold parcels (exhibiting a variety of shapes and sizes) that aredelivered to residential and commercial destinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to certain aspects of the present invention, parcel lockersystems are provided. More particularly, the parcel locker systems ofthe present invention include a rigid container that is configured toreceive and hold a parcel, which is preferably affixed to a ground orwall surface adjacent to a building (such that the rigid container maynot be misappropriated by others). The invention provides that the rigidcontainer may be remotely controlled by a user via a softwareapplication housed within a personal computing device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or watch). More particularly, the rigid container may betemporarily opened (to allow a delivery person to deposit a parceltherein) through a wireless instruction that is sent by the softwareapplication housed within the personal computing device to the rigidcontainer. The invention provides that the system includes at least onecamera, which is configured to transmit video content of the areasurrounding the rigid container to a user, so that the user may confirmthat a legitimate delivery person has arrived to deposit a parcel withinthe rigid container.

More specifically, according to such embodiments, the invention providesthat the parcel locker systems include a rigid container having anexternal surface, an internal area that is configured to receive andhold a parcel, a door that is configured to be reversibly opened andclosed, a door lock that is configured to be wirelessly activated(locked) and deactivated (unlocked), a digital indicator located on theexternal surface of the rigid container (which signals whether the doorlock is activated or deactivated), a means for attaching the rigidcontainer to a floor or wall surface, and a power source. As mentionedabove, the system further includes a camera that is configured andoriented to capture video content of a delivery person located adjacentto the rigid container and wirelessly transmit such video content to auser of the system. In addition, the system includes a softwareapplication that is configured to receive the transmitted video contentfrom the camera and, according to a user's command, wirelessly issue aninstruction to the door lock to deactivate for a period of time (e.g.,30 seconds)—to allow a delivery person to deposit the parcel within therigid container.

According to additional aspects of the present invention, the parcellocker systems described above are provided, which are embedded within(and, to some extent, disguised within) a piece of outdoor furniture.

The above-mentioned and additional features of the present invention arefurther illustrated in the Detailed Description contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 : a perspective side view of a rigid container of the parcellocker system of the present invention, showing the locker door in anopen configuration.

FIG. 2 : a perspective side view of a rigid container of the parcellocker system of the present invention, showing the locker door in aclosed configuration.

FIG. 3 : a front side view of a rigid container of the parcel lockersystem of the present invention, showing the locker door in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 4 : a front side view of a rigid container of the parcel lockersystem of the present invention, showing the locker door in a closedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 : a perspective view of a rigid container of the parcel lockersystem of the present invention, which is integrated into a piece ofoutdoor furniture.

FIG. 6 : another perspective view of a rigid container of the parcellocker system of the present invention, along with a diagram showingvarious parts of the central processing unit of the rigid container, asdescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following will describe, in detail, several preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. These embodiments are provided by way ofexplanation only, and thus, should not unduly restrict the scope of theinvention. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciateupon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawingsthat the invention teaches many variations and modifications, and thatnumerous variations of the invention may be employed, used and madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention,parcel locker systems are provided. The parcel locker systems of thepresent invention include a rigid container that is configured toreceive and hold a parcel, with the rigid container being preferablyaffixed to a ground or wall surface adjacent to a building (e.g., auser's house or place of business). The invention provides that therigid container may be remotely controlled by a user, via a softwareapplication housed within the user's personal computing device. Moreparticularly, the rigid container may be temporarily opened (to allow adelivery person to deposit a parcel therein) through a wirelessinstruction that is sent by the software application housed within thepersonal computing device to the rigid container. The invention providesthat the system includes at least one camera, which is configured totransmit video content of the area surrounding the rigid container tothe user, so that a user may confirm that a delivery person has arrivedto deposit a parcel within the rigid container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 , according to certain preferred embodimentsof the present invention, the parcel locker systems comprise a rigidcontainer 10 that includes an external surface 12, an internal area 14that is configured to receive and hold a parcel, a door 16 that isconfigured to be reversibly opened and closed, a door lock 18 that isconfigured to be wirelessly activated (closed/locked) and deactivated(opened/unlocked), a digital indicator 20 located on the externalsurface 12 that signals whether the door lock 18 is activated ordeactivated (e.g., the digital indicator 20 may exhibit a red light whenthe door lock 18 is activated (locked) and a green light when the doorlock 18 is deactivated (unlocked), thereby communicating to a deliveryperson that the door 16 may be opened to deposit a parcel within therigid container 10), a means for attaching the rigid container 10 to afloor or wall surface, and a power source 40 (FIG. 6 ).

The invention provides that the means for attaching the rigid container10 to a floor or wall surface is preferably located on the bottomexternal surface 12, or back external surface 12, of the rigid container10. The invention provides that such means for attaching the rigidcontainer 10 to a floor or wall surface may consist of bolts, nails,adhesives, latches, chains, or other mechanical attachments that areeffective to connect the rigid container 10 to a floor or wall surface(so that the rigid container 10—and its contents—may not bemisappropriated by others). The invention further provides that thepower source 40 may consist of (or otherwise be operably coupled to) arechargeable battery that is housed within the rigid container 10; ahardwire connection 34 to a power line associated with an adjacentbuilding; or a combination of the foregoing. In addition, according toother embodiments, the invention provides that the power source 40 mayconsist of (or otherwise be operably coupled to) a rechargeable batterythat is housed within the rigid container 10, which receives electricalpower from a solar energy unit 46 affixed to the rigid container 10. Insuch embodiments, the solar panels 48 of the solar energy unit 46 may belocated on a top side of the door 16 of the rigid container 10, so thatthe solar panels 48 are oriented towards the sun (FIG. 3 ) when the door16 is closed.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , the parcel locker systems of the presentinvention further include a camera 22 that is configured and oriented tocapture video content of a parcel delivery person located adjacent tothe rigid container 10 and wirelessly transmit such video content to auser of the system. The invention provides that the camera 22 may beintegrated into or affixed to the rigid container 10, such as positionedon the external surface 12 thereof (and facing outward from the door16), or integrated into a building that is adjacent to the rigidcontainer 10 (e.g., the camera 22 may consist of a security cameraaffixed to the building). In both embodiments (i.e., the camera 22 beingaffixed to the rigid container 10 or an adjacent building), the camera22 will be configured to wirelessly communicate and transmit videocontent to a user of the system. The invention provides that suchtransmission may be executed between the camera 22 and a user'scomputing device 24 (discussed below) or, in other embodiments, thecamera 22 may transmit the video content to a central processing unit 26(discussed below) of the rigid container 10, which then relays andtransmits the video content to the user's computing device 24.

In addition, as explained above, the parcel locker systems of thepresent invention include a software application that is housed within auser's computing device 24 (such as a mobile phone, tablet, computer,smart watch, or other computing device that is capable of running thesoftware application described herein). The invention provides that thesoftware application—housed within a user's computing device 24—isconfigured to receive the transmitted video content from the camera 22(and display such content to the user within the computing device 24).The invention provides that the computing device 24 and softwareapplication are configured to, according to the user's command,wirelessly issue an instruction to the door lock 18 to deactivate for adefined period of time, such as 30 seconds (i.e., sufficient time for adelivery person to deposit a parcel within the rigid container 10).

According to yet further embodiments, the camera 22 may optionallyinclude a motion detector 42 that is configured to issue a wirelessnotification to a user (to the user's computing device 24), indicatingthat a person has been detected and is present in an area adjacent tothe rigid container 10. At such time, the camera 22 captures videocontent of the person and transmits the video content to the user'scomputing device 24, whereupon the software application—housed withinthe user's computing device 24—is configured to prompt the user toeither permit or deny access to the internal area 14 of the rigidcontainer 10. For example, in certain embodiments, if the user wishes togrant such access, the user may click/select a button within the userinterface of the computing device 24, which causes the softwareapplication housed therein to wirelessly issue an instruction to thedoor lock 18 to deactivate (to allow the door 16 to be opened) for adefined period of time (e.g., 30 seconds). In such embodiments, the doorlock 18 is preferably configured to be magnetically activated(closed/locked) and deactivated (opened/unlocked).

According to certain preferred embodiments, the rigid containers 10 ofthe parcel locker systems of the present invention further include acentral processing unit 26, which includes or is operably coupled to thepower source 40, a processor 28, a storage medium 30 (e.g., randomaccess memory), a wireless transceiver 32, and an antennae 44. Theinvention provides that the wireless transceiver 32 and antennae 44 areconfigured to wirelessly communicate with the software applicationhoused within a user's computing device 24. Such wireless communicationmay be executed through the wireless transceiver 32 itself and/or via awireless Internet connection established by a router within an adjacentbuilding.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , in certain embodiments, the rigid container 10may, optionally, further include a microphone and speaker 36 (e.g., onthe external surface 12 thereof), which are configured to enable aparcel delivery person, when located adjacent to the rigid container 10,to verbally communicate with a user/second person who is operating thesoftware application housed within a user's computing device 24. Inaddition, according to some embodiments, the invention provides that therigid container 10 may, optionally, include a second digital indicator38 located on the external surface 12 that is configured to signal thata parcel is present within the internal area 14 and automatically resetwhen a user retrieves the parcel by opening the door 16 using thesoftware application housed within a user's computing device 24 (e.g., agreen light may indicate that a parcel is present within the rigidcontainer 10, whereas a red light may indicate that no parcel ispresent).

Still further, the invention provides that the external surface 12 ofthe rigid container 10 may include a bar code, a quick response (QR)code, and/or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that is uniqueto the particular rigid container 10, which a delivery person may scanwith a scanning device—with the scanning device being configured towirelessly transmit to a third party server and database informationindicating that a package has been deposited within the rigid container10 (along with other relevant information, such as the date and time ofdelivery and the identity of the responsible delivery person). In otherembodiments, the rigid container 10 may further include its own scanningdevice 50 (FIG. 4 ), which is configured to scan a bar code, a quickresponse (QR) code, and/or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagassociated with a package. Upon scanning a package with the scanningdevice 50, the door 16 may be instructed to open (as described herein)and, furthermore, the rigid container 10 may wirelessly transmit to athird party server and database information indicating that a packagehas been deposited within the rigid container 10 (along with otherrelevant information, such as the date and time of delivery and theidentity of the responsible delivery person).

According to yet further embodiments, the present invention providesthat the software application housed within a user's computing device 24may be configured to issue electronic reminders that a parcel has beendeposited within the rigid container 10. For example, the softwareapplication may issue an electronic notice or reminder that a parcel hasbeen deposited within the rigid container 10 (and the date and time ofsuch deposit) via e-mail, short message service (SMS) messaging (i.e.,text messages), through a user's on-line website portal, or such otherelectronic forms of communication that may be viewed within the user'scomputing device 24. In addition, if the power source 40 of the rigidcontainer 10 consists of a rechargeable battery, the invention providesthat the software application will further be configured to communicate,using any of the above communication protocols, the amount of remainingbattery charge (and/or when the rechargeable battery should bere-charged using an external power source).

According to yet further embodiments, the invention provides that therigid container 10 of the parcel locker system may include a motor thatis configured to automatically close the door 16 after a defined periodof time (e.g., 30 seconds) has elapsed. For example, in the event that aparcel delivery person forgets to manually close the door 16 afterdepositing a parcel within the rigid container 10, the motor will beactivated by the central processing unit 26 to cause the door 16 toclose and the door lock 18 to be activated. The invention provides thatthe software application is preferably configured to allow a user toprescribe and adjust (as desired) the duration of the defined period oftime during which the door 16 is allowed to remain in an opened state.

The invention provides that the rigid containers 10 of the presentinvention may exhibit a variety of shapes and sizes, but will preferablyexhibit an internal area 14 that is configured to receive and hold bothlarge and small parcels. For example, if the rigid containers 10 areconfigured to exhibit a substantially rectangular outer dimension, therigid containers 10 will preferably be configured to include an internalarea 14 that is capable of receiving and holding a parcel that consistsof at least 1 cubic foot, or preferably at least 2 cubic feet, or, insome embodiments, at least 3 cubic feet. In certain embodiments,depending on the size and volume of the internal area 14, the internalarea 14 may include one or more adjustable shelves. The inventionprovides that the external surface 12 of the rigid container 10 ispreferably “water tight”—meaning that, when the door 16 is closed, rainand other weather elements are not able to enter the internal area 14 ofthe rigid container 10. The invention provides that the rigid container10 may be manufactured from a variety of rigid materials, such as steel,plastics, elastomers, and other rigid and weather-resistantmaterials—and the rigid container 10 may include seals around theperimeter of the door 16 to render the rigid container 10 water tight.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , in certain preferred embodiments, the rigidcontainer 10 described herein may be embedded within (and, to someextent, disguised within) a piece of outdoor furniture. For example, therigid container 10 may be integrally formed between (or attached to)four legs of a porch chair or bench. In such embodiments, the door 16 ofthe rigid container 10 may be accessed and opened by pulling back (orremoving) a seat cushion of the outdoor furniture. The inventionprovides that the outdoor furniture may be configured such that thesides of the rigid container 10 are viewable between the legs of thefurniture (as shown in FIG. 5 ) or not viewable between the legs of thefurniture (e.g., enclosed by a wall that connects the legs of thefurniture). Although a porch chair is depicted in FIG. 5 , the inventionprovides that the rigid containers 10 described herein may be embeddedwithin a variety of other types of furniture or outdoor fixtures.

The many aspects and benefits of the invention are apparent from thedetailed description, and thus, it is intended for the following claimsto cover all such aspects and benefits of the invention that fall withinthe scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, because numerousmodifications and variations will be obvious and readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, the claims should not be construed to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation illustrated anddescribed herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents should be understood to fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A parcel locker system, which comprises: (a) arigid container that includes an external surface, an internal area thatis configured to receive and hold a parcel, a door that is configured tobe reversibly opened and closed, a door lock that is configured to bewirelessly activated and deactivated, a first digital indicator locatedon the external surface that signals whether the door lock is activatedor deactivated, a means for attaching the rigid container to a floor orwall surface, and a power source; (b) a software application that isconfigured to (i) receive transmitted video content from a camera, (ii)wirelessly communicate with the door lock, (iii), according to a user'scommand, wirelessly issue an instruction to the door lock to deactivatefor a defined period of time, and (iv) issue electronic reminders to theuser that a parcel has been deposited within the rigid container; and(c) a second digital indicator located on the external surface of therigid container that is configured to (i) signal that a parcel ispresent within the internal area and (ii) automatically reset when theuser retrieves the parcel by opening the door using the softwareapplication.
 2. The parcel locker system of claim 1, which furthercomprises a motor that is configured to automatically close the doorafter the defined period of time has elapsed.
 3. The parcel lockersystem of claim 1, which further comprises a microphone and speaker,which are configured to enable the parcel delivery person, when locatedadjacent to the rigid container, to verbally communicate with the userwho is operating the software application.
 4. The parcel locker systemof claim 1, wherein the power source is (a) a rechargeable battery, (b)a hardwire connection to a power line associated with the building, or(c) a combination of (a) and (b).
 5. The parcel locker system of claim1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery that receivespower from a solar energy unit affixed to the rigid container.
 6. Theparcel locker system of claim 3, wherein the door lock is configured tobe magnetically activated and deactivated.
 7. The parcel locker systemof claim 1, wherein the door includes one or more seals around aperimeter of the door to render the rigid container water tight.
 8. Theparcel locker system of claim 1, wherein the external surface of therigid container includes a bar code, a quick response (QR) code, and/ora radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that (a) is unique to therigid container and (b) is configured to be scanned with a scanningdevice, wherein the scanning device is configured to wirelessly transmitto a third party server and database information indicating that apackage has been deposited within the rigid container.
 9. The parcellocker system of claim 1, wherein the external surface of the rigidcontainer includes a scanning device that is configured to scan a barcode, a quick response (QR) code, and/or a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag associated with a package.